p e r i p e t e i a

per·i·pe·te·ia n.
A sudden change of events or reversal of circumstances, especially in a literary work.
- The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

Peripeteia (Greek) is a reversal of circumstances, or turning point. Primarily used with reference to works of literature.
- Wikipedia

http://www.answers.com/topic/peripeteia

The ancient Greek word "peripeteia" means "reversal", i.e. the turning point in a drama after which the plot moves steadily to its denouement. It is discussed by Aristotle in the Poetics as the shift of the tragic protagonist's fortune from good to bad, which is essential to the plot of a tragedy.
http://experts.about.com/q/2004/3935378.htm

Peripeteia is often wrongly translated as a "reversal of fortune". More correctly, it refers to a reversal of the situation, where the action turns towards a direction just the opposite of its original course.
http://pinkmonkey.com/booknotes/monkeynotes/pmOedipusRex10.asp


起初觉得 peripeteia 用得还蛮 apt 的，因为它比喻 “sudden change of events” or “turning point”。可是后来发现这个字 associated with tragedy... Hmmm... 又要抓头了...

P.S.: Thank you, Mag, for sending me a link (9-Nov-05) on this !